This past Saturday I had the rare treat of being given a tour of the clock room and astronomical observatory of Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey.
As an alumnus of CHS, the massive clock tower has always been a source of some mystery. Lucky students have the chance to climb it, either for [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Architecture'
A Climb Up Columbia’s Clock Tower
April 10th, 2008 · No Comments · Architecture, Diary
Tags:chs·maplewood·new jersey·schools
The State Normal School at Jersey City
January 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment · Architecture
“On February, 1930, we the class of January 1933, entered the portals of the State Normal School at Jersey City. Bewildered, cautious, lest we commit a grave offense, we wandered aimlessly about the halls. Attention was called to the foyer, the library, and the auditorium. We fairly drank in the beauty of a school so [...]
Tags:new jersey·schools
The Home of Mr. Ernest F. Guilbert
November 11th, 2007 · 1 Comment · Architecture, Articles, Biographical
In my entry regarding the Franklin Murphy house, I ruminated that it was the only known residential structure designed by Guilbert & Betelle. As it turns out, I was wrong.
I’ve recently had the privilege of corresponding with members of the Guilbert family, who have shown a keen interest in my research. Given the circumstances of [...]
Tags:Guilbert·magazine·newark·residential
The Ghost of New Rochelle High School
July 5th, 2007 · 22 Comments · Architecture, Diary
Referencing New Rochelle’s French heritage, New Rochelle High School was rendered in a French Gothic style infused with provincial chateau elements.
My first exposure to New Rochelle High School was a series of photographs in a 1932 article on school architecture written by James Betelle. While I had been pretty familiar with the traditional English [...]
Tags:new rochelle·New York·schools
More Newark, More Schools
May 10th, 2007 · 1 Comment · Architecture, Diary
Last week I headed down to Newark to learn more about James Betelle’s tragically short-lived partner, Ernest F. Guilbert. I scored quickly by finding Guilbert’s obituary at the library, which painted a pretty good portrait of his life and career. With that done, I was off to chase down a number of schools I hadn’t [...]